Cartridge actuated shears



Aug.2l, 1956 J. BELSKY CARTRIDGE ACTUATED sHEARs 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 25, 1955 wwwwm, 3 E

mmmmj llvlllllllllo Aug. 21, 1956 J. BELSKY CARTRIDGE ACTUATED SHEARS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 23, 1955 United States Patent O CARTRIDGE ACTUATED SI-IEARS Jerome I elsky, Falls Church, Va., assignor to Talco Engineering Company, Inc., Hamden, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application June 23, 1955, Serial No. 517,533

Claims. (Cl. Sil-272) the provision of a novel shears which can be automatically operated upon proper engagement of the shears with the material to be cut, while also utilizing the energy imparted by the propellant gases of a cartridge which has been fired to actuate the cutter or blade of the shears.

A further object of this invention resides in the provision of a cartridge actuated tree pruner which can be used to cut and sever limbs of trees of considerable dimensions, and which employs a trigger mounted so as to extend in a recess formed by the hook portion of the housing whereby the cartridge can be red by a downward pull on the tree pruner.

Still further objects and features of this invention reside in the provision of a cartridge actuated shears that is strong and durable, simple in construction and manufacture, which employs a conventional automatic pistol mechanism for use in a tiring train and for ejection of spent cartridges, which may be provided with an elongated pawl for use as a handle or which may have alternatively a hand grip thereon, and yet which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, thereby permitting wide use and distribution.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of the invention which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this cartridge actuated shears, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the cartridge actuated shears with the portion of the housing thereof in which the major-operating portions of the device are positioned being broken away and shown in section to show the other portions of the invention in detail;

Figure 2 is a plan View of the invention;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional detail view as taken along the planes of line 3 3 in Figure l, and,

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional detail illustrating a ring mechanism utilized in this cartridge actuated shears.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, reference numeral 10 is used to generally designate the cartridge actuated Shears comprising the present invention. This cartridge actuated shears includes a housing 12 which is adaptedto be mounted on an elongated pole 14, as by bolts 16,`

or to be secured to any other suitable handle, such as hand grips or the like.

The housing 12 has a hook portion 18 so arranged as to form a material receiving recess 20. The hook portion 18 is bifurcated as at 22 and 24.

Pivotally mounted in the hook portion 18 of the h ousing 12 on a pin 26 is a trigger 28 including lower bifurcated sections 30 depending from a upper portlon 32 of substantially U-shape in configuration.

Pivotally connected to the trigger 28 as at 34 1s a hnk 36 which is pivotally connected as at 38 to a rod 40 fice which slidably extends through a guide 42 xed to the houslng. rl'he rod 40 is pivotally attached to a crank 41 of any conventional shape which is adapted to actuate the sear 43 of a conventional automatic pistol assembly shown generally at 44 so as to actuate the hammer 45 to drive a ring pin 46, through a spring-biased mechanism 47 for firing cartridges 48 received within the breech block 50 of the automatic pistol firing mechanism 44. A magazine 52 for providing the cartridges 48 is provided and the cartridges are fed into the breech block 50 in a conventional manner. The ring mechanism 44 is described in detail in U. S. Patent No. 2,535,156 to to Pastore et al., issued December 26, 1950. It is to be realized that other firing mechanisms may readily be employed without deviating from the spirit of the invention. Cartridge ejector 54 of conventional construction is likewise provided. The ejector 54 is, of course, adapted to function upon movement of the barrel 60. The breech block 50 is positioned within the breech 58 of a barrel 60 in which a piston 62 is slidably mounted. The propellant gases resulting from the firing of the cartridge 48 will cause the piston to move with respect to the barrel 60.

Mounted on the piston 62 is a piston end 64 having an annular collar 68 forming a seat for a spring 70. The spring 70 engages a shoulder 72 on the barrel 60. Pivotally connected between ears 74 on the piston end 64 is a link 76 held in position by a fastener 78. The link 76 is pivotally attached, as at 80, to a cutter 82 pivotally secured, as at 84, to the housing l2 and adapted to` extend into the recess 20. The cutter 82 has a blade 86l forming a cutting edge.

Secured in the housing 12 is a stop 88 having a recess, as at 90, for receiving the cutter head to limit the Outward movement of the cutter 82. The blade 86 is adapted to extend between the trigger arms 30 when in an extended position.

After the propellant gases have 'been exhausted, the spring 70 is adapted to return the cutter to its initial position, as is shown in Figure l, while a spring 92 concentrically disposed on the rod 48 is designed to return the trigger to its initial position, likewise shown in Figure l, from its actuated position.

The firing sequence of this automatic cartridge actu-` 24 of the hook 18 and causes the link 36 to actuate the4 rod 40 compressing spring 92 to cause the sear 43 of the automatic pistol firing mechanism 44 to release the hammer 45 to drive the firing pin 46 while said firing mecha-` nism 44 actuates said firing pin 46. When the cartridge ignites, the piston 62 is forced forward, pressing the cutter 82 against the limb. The barrel meanwhile is held against the slide 56 by pressure against the forward face of the breech block 50. When the piston has completed the major part of its stroke, the piston head 89 engages the land 83 at the forward end of the barrel 60 to overcome the force on the breech block 50, thus dragging the barrel forward. The forward movement of the barrel 60 has the same effect as the backward movement of the slide in a standard automatic pistolmechanism. The

original position by the return spring 70. The barrel,

is returned to its original position by recoil spring` in the slide 56, not shown, and a new cartridge is forced into place by the conventional mechanism similar to an auto-.,

matic pistol mechanism. The pruner is then ready to be fired again since the spring 92 returns the .trigger ,210 .to 1ts lmtial position.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles :of the invention. xFmther, since `numerous modications and `changes will readily occur to those skilled zin .the art, it ,is inot .desired #to Ilimit he :invention to tthe exact construction .and operation shown and Adescribed, `and accordingly, `all suitable :modifications .and equivalents `may be :resorted to, falling within :the scope of -the invention as claimed.

What Ais .claimed as new Vis .as follows:

1Z `A .cartridge .actuated shears `'comprising :a housing having -a ihookportionatfone end .thereoha trigger rpivot ally mounted -in -said hook portion, a iring .pin, a tiring mechanism for .actuating s aid dring .pin, dink means `connected :toi-said :trigger .and :said `rtiring mechanism 'for .actuating said .tiring mechanism .to actuate said :tiring pin, n barrel in said housing, a-breech .for vreceiving :a .cartridge in l.communication withsaid barrel, `a `piston -in saidfbanrel, a .cutter pivotally mounted `in said housing, fsaid -piston being .connected to said cutter.

2. A cartridge actuated shears comprising .a housing having ahook portion at `one end thereof defining a :material receiving recess, a trigger pivotally mounted in .said hook portion, a firing pin, a tiring mechanism :for .actuating said ring pin, link means connected to said itrigger andsaidtiring mechanism for actuating said tiringmechanism to .aotuate said rng Pin, spring means 'associated with said link means for normally urging ,said :trigger "to extend yinto said recess, a barrel .in said ihousing, .a breech for receiving a cartridge in communication with said barrel, a piston in said barrel, a cutter ,pivotally mounted in Asaid housing, said piston being ,connected to asaid cutter.

3. A cartridge actuated shears comprising la housing having ahook `portion at one end thereof, a trigger pivotally mounted in said :hook portion, a firing ipin, a Yfiring mechanism for actuating said firing pin, link l'means iconnectedfto said trigger and said ringfmechanism for.actu ating said ring mechanism to actuate said tiring-pin, Va piston .insaid housing, a lringtrain actuatedhysaid .firing pin Afor causing movement .of ysaid piston, a cutter pivotally 4mounted in said housing, said piston being l.connected to said cutter.

4. A cartridge actuated shears .comprising a housing having a hook portion at oneend x tltiereof .deining a .material receiving recess, a trigger pivotally mounted in said hook portion, a .tiring pin, a firing .mechanism ttor actuating said ring pin, link means connected lto said trigger and said ring vmechanism for .actuating said tiring mechanism to actuate said .tiring pin, .spring .means .associated with -said link means for normally urging said trigger to extend into said recess, :a pi-stonin saidhousing, a firing .train .actuated `by :saidtring pin fior causing movement iof said piston, a ,cutter pivotally mounted .in said housing, said piston :being connected :to said cutter.

5. A cartridge yactuated ,shears comprising .a `housing having va hook :portion at oneend thereofdening a-material receiving recess, a trigger .pivotallyfmountedin said hook ,portion, a itiring pin, .a tiring mechanism .-for.actuat ing said firing pin, link means connectednto said `trigger and said r`tiring mechanism forv actuatingisaid ,ringmechanism `to actuate said :firing pin, spring means associated with said link means ,for .normally urging Asaid trigger to extend into said recess, a fbarrel :insaid housing, .a .breech for receiving a .cartridge in Ycorrnnunication with ysaid barrel, a-piston .in said barrel, a cutter pivotally :mounted in'saidf'housing, said piston beingconnected yto saidcutter, said cutter normally being'received in .said housing, `said piston'when actuated :urging :said cutter into said-recess, and'spring 'means associated 'with said Ipiston tfor returning tsaid `cutter into .said housing.

6. A cartridge 'actuated shears :comprising .a housing having `a hook portion .at .one l.end thereof `,defining .a .ma-

terial receiving recess, a trigger pivotally mounted in said hook portion, .afdring pin, a ring mechanism .for .actuating said ring pin, link means connected to said trigger and said ring mechanism for actuating said firing mechanism to actuate said firing pin, spring means associated with said link means for normally urging said trigger to extend into said recess, a piston in said housing, a firing train actuated by said tiring pin -for causing -movement of ysaid piston, a cutter pivotally mounted in said housing, said ,piston being connected to said cutter, `said cutter normally being received in said housing, said piston when actuated urging said cutter into said recess, land spring means associated with said piston for returning said cutter into said housing.

7. A cartridge actuated shears comprising a housing having a hook portion at one end thereof, a trigger pivotally mounted in ysaid hook portion, a tiring pin, a fring mechanism for actuating gsaidiiring pin, link -means connected to said 4trigger and said liring mechanism for'actuating said tiring mechanism to actuate 4'said -ring pin, a barrclin saidhousing, a breech for receiving a cartridge in communication with said barrel, apiston =in said barrel, a cutter `pivotally mounted in said housing, said `piston being connected to said cutter, land an V.elongated 'pole forming a handle secured to Vsaid housing.

'8. A cartridge actuated shears comprising Ia lhousing having a `hook portion at lone'end thereof defining amaterial Areceiving recess, a Atrigger pivotally mounted lin said hook portion, a *tiring -pin, a firing mechanism or actuating said tiring pin, llink means connected to lsaid trigger and said ltiring mechanism for actuating said firing mechanism to actuate said ring pin, rspring -means associated '-with said link means -for `normally urging said trfiggertoextend 'into said recess, a piston in said housing,-

a tiring train actuatedby said firing pin -rfor causing movement of -said piston, a cutter pivotally Amounted in said housing, said piston being :connected to said cutter, said lcutter normally being received in -said housing, 4said pistonwhen lactuated vurging said `cutter linto said recess, yand spring means associated with said piston ffor Areturning said cutter `into said housing, and-an elongated pole -forming a handle secured to said housing.

9. A 'cartridge actuated shears comprising a housing having a'hook'portion at one end "thereof, a1trigger pivotally mounted in said hook portion, a ring'pin, a tiring mechanism for actuating -said tiring pin, 'llink means connected to `said `trigger and said ringmechanism fior :actuating said ring mechanism to lactuate said tiringpin, a pistonlin said housing, la rfiring train actuated Y'bysaid tiring pin for causing movement of said piston, acutter-pivotal- 1y mounted 'in said-housing, said piston being connected to said cutter, said hook portion being `-bifurcated, said cutter when actuated extending between the I-furcations -of said hook.

l0. A cartridge actuated shears comprising Vai-housing having a hook portion at yone end `thereof deiningamateria'l .receiving recess, a trigger pivotally mounted iin said hook portion, a ring pin, a ring mechanism :for actuating said ring pin, link means connected to ,said trigger and said ring mechanismior actuating :saidrring mechanism to actuate said l'tiring pin, spring .means :associated with said link means for lnormally urging said trigger to extend into sa'id recess,.a pistonin said housing, a ring train actuated by said -tiring pin l.tor causing lmovement of said piston, 'a cutter pivotally-mounted in said'housing, said piston being connected :to .said cutter,

said cutter normally being receivedin saidhousi-ng, said4 piston 'when actuated vurging vsaid cutter into said rrecess, and spring means associated with 'said 'piston-for returning said cutterinto said housing, lsaid lhookportion belng bifurcated, said ,cutter when v actuated extending lbetween the furcations of said'hook.

No vreferences cited. 

